Malik demands ‘Truth, Reconciliation Commission’ on dialogue with TTP

ISLAMABAD   -  Former interior minister and Chairman Institute of Research and Reforms Rehman Malik has said that dialogue with Taliban and bringing them into national mainstream is a good initiative .

He, however, said, “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has never been sincere with Pakistan and has always taken advantage of the talk to strengthen themselves and even had continued terrorist activities during the process of negotiation.”

Speaking at a news conference here, Malik said that if Prime Minister says that talk with TTP is underway then why TTP is attacking the security forces in North Waziristan as just yesterday they targeted a security forces vehicle in Spinwam, North Waziristan in which four Frontier Corps soldiers and one levies sub-inspector embraced Shahadat. He said that TTP had never been honest with Pakistan.

The former interior minister urged the government to take Parliament into confidence before talking to the TTP. He advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to give away the ego and work with opposition on important national issues as bringing TTP into the national mainstream is an important national issue.  He stated that bringing extremists into the mainstream is a good initiative and he hoped that TTP has not planned to engage the Pakistani government through Afghan Taliban to get energize themselves so the government needs a carful move. He demanded formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine this whole Taliban saga which has inflicted irreparable loss on Pakistan. He also demanded that TTP should surrender their weapons in Afghanistan before Afghan Taliban during the talks with Pakistan and also announced disassociation from Daesh.

He said that Ikramullah, the killer of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, who was the second suicide bomber and survived the attack, is now with the TTP. “We request the Interior Minister of Afghanistan to hand over him to Pakistan,” Malik said.  He said that at present there are more than 25,000 TTP terrorists in Nuristan region of Afghanistan and the Afghan government should immediately disarm them and hand them over to Pakistan so that the talks can proceed successfully. He said, “Our institutions have to be vigilant as the TTP and ISIS terrorists in Afghanistan can be used against Pakistan.” Malik said that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was doing a great job and Pakistan has confidence in him.

Malik said the TTP would have to be made accountable for the attacks and killings in Pakistan as the parents of martyred children of Army Public School are still waiting for justice. He said that the families of those thousands of Shias who were killed in Quetta, Karachi, Gilgit, and other cities of the country, seek justice.

He said that there is no good or bad Taliban, a terrorist is only a terrorist and a national criminal like a terrorist can never come to the right path.

Referring to Anti-Pakistan Bill moved by 22 US senators, Malik said that the situation in Pakistan today is known to all, the United States neither has asked Pakistan before the invasion nor about the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, so it is inappropriate to place the responsibility of the defeat on Pakistan. He said US it can’t blame Pakistan for its failure in Afghanistan.

The former Home Minister also said that politicians are fighting on EVM today and will fight on Pandora Paper tomorrow but they must not forget the sufferings of the poor man of Pakistan. 

He said that Pandora Box Leaks would entirely change the political situation of Pakistan and Pandora Box Leaks are many times more dangerous than Panama Leaks. 

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